1. Initiation
The Initiation Phase sets the foundation for a successful product by thoroughly understanding the business context, defining constraints, and forming a high-level plan. This phase includes the following key elements:
Business Overview
This element involves a comprehensive analysis of the business landscape, including the market environment, competitive alternatives, and business goals. Understanding the broader business context ensures that the project aligns with the company's strategic objectives and can deliver meaningful value.
Customer Journey
Mapping the customer journey helps in understanding the customer's interactions with the product or service. This includes identifying key touchpoints, pain points, and opportunities for improvement. By visualizing the customer experience, the team can prioritize features and enhancements that will have the most significant impact on customer satisfaction.
Stakeholder Mapping
Identifying and mapping stakeholders is crucial for understanding their influence, interests, and expectations. This process ensures that all relevant stakeholders are considered and that their needs are addressed throughout the project. Effective stakeholder mapping helps in building strong relationships and securing necessary support.
Architecture & UX Guidelines
Establishing technical and design guidelines provides a clear framework for the project. This includes defining the technology stack, architectural standards, design principles, and best practices. These guidelines ensure consistency, reusability, and high-quality outcomes, facilitating smoother development and integration processes.
Team Formation
Forming the right team is essential for project success. This involves selecting cross-functional team members with the necessary skills and expertise. Clear role definitions and responsibilities are established to ensure accountability and effective collaboration. A well-structured team can operate with high autonomy and efficiency, adapting to changes and challenges as they arise.
Business Vision Workshop
Conducting a Business Vision Workshop brings together key stakeholders to align on the project's goals and vision. This collaborative session helps in defining the project's scope, objectives, and success criteria. By engaging stakeholders early in the process, the team can ensure that the project direction is clear and that everyone is committed to a shared vision.
Outputs of the Initiation Phase
At the end of this phase, we aim to have the Product High-level Plan, which is composed of 3 key elements:
UX Design Document
The UX Design Document includes guidelines that the team will follow regarding look and feel, user interaction, and experience. It sets standards for interface components, ensuring a consistent and intuitive user experience across the product.
Product Backlog
The Product Backlog is a rough plan for the product, containing epics, high-level components, and features. It serves as a dynamic list of tasks and requirements that guide the development phase. It provides a roadmap for delivering value incrementally, allowing the team to prioritize work based on stakeholder feedback and evolving project needs.
Architecture Document
This document provides developers with the structure needed to develop a clean solution focused on performance, reusability, and flexibility. It outlines the architectural standards and practices that guide the technical implementation of the product, ensuring a robust and scalable foundation.
Phase 1-2-3
The 7dig Delivery Method is applied in three major phases—Initiation, Iteration, and Release—each designed with a specific purpose in the project lifecycle.
The Initiation Phase sets the foundation by defining the business context, stakeholder needs, and team structure. The Iteration Phase focuses on iterative development, where requirements are refined, solutions are built, and quality is validated. Finally, the Release Phase prepares the product for deployment, ensuring user acceptance and readiness for Go Live. This phased approach ensures that each project progresses methodically, maintaining high standards of quality and aligning with business goals throughout the development cycle.
